Bobbin holders for textile machines



July 20, 1965 J. NOGUERA BOBBIN HOLDERS FOR TEXTILE MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 11, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 20, 1965 J. NOGUERA BOBBIN HOLDERS FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed Feb. 11, 1963 United States Patent This invention relates to bobbin holders for textile machines, the holders being of the rotary suspension type having a spindle-like body, which can be introduced into the open end of a bobbin, and catch means housed in the body for movement into and out of a projecting bobbinretaining position.

It has already been proposed to provide rotary suspension bobbin holders with bobbin retaining and release mechanisms in various forms. Such mechanisms are all dependent for their proper working upon the presence of an internal shoulder between the main bobbin bore and an end neck through which the holder body enters the bobbin, and incorporate some form of shoulder engaging means.

Thus in some known forms of holder, the shoulder engaging means is made resilient. Such resilient means, however, which must exert a force on an engaged bobbin greater than the bobbin weight to hold the latter when fully loaded, have the serious disadvantage of requiring at least an equivalent force to withdraw an empty bobbin.

Other known forms of holder employ toggle arms to engage a bobbin shoulder, the arms being moved between engaging and release positions by sliding or rotary devices actuated by a collar slidably encircling the body. A serious disadvantage of these last-mentioned holders is, however, their complex and expensive construction which increases the possibility of failure during operation.

The best known form of suspension bobbin holder and by far the most popular and successful, employs a simple rotatable catch which can be turned transversely of the body into a projecting bobbin-retaining position or lengthwise into a withdrawn bobbin-release position. This known holder form has the important merit of inexpensive simplicity and is capable of handling all bobbins within a given size range dependent upon the dimensioning of the catch. Catches of different dimensions can be fitted to accommodate the holder to different size ranges.

A main object of the present invention is to provide a generally improved bobbin holder which has, among other advantages, a simple, reliable and inexpensive construction as well as being self-adjusting for bobbin size so that all bobbin size ranges common in practice can be served without changing the bobbin holder in any way whatsoever.

Accordingly, the invention provides a bobbin holder of the type specified wherein the catch means is mounted for sliding movement lengthwise of the body between a lower projecting bobbin retaining position, to which the catch means is urged by a biasing force, and a raised retracted bobbin-release position to which the catch means can be lifted by displacing an open bobbin end along the holder body, the said projection and retraction of the catch means being controlled by a ramp arranged in the body so that the catch means rides thereover during said lengthwise movement.

According to a further more limited aspect of the invention, there is provided a bobbin holder of the type specified wherein the catch means is constituted by two axially and angularly movable facing legs which are urged downwardly in the body to straddle ramp means whereby the lower leg ends are separated to project bobbin-retain- See ing heels thereon respectively through opposed axial slots in the body wall, the said legs being adapted for upward and inward movement relative to the body, to retract said heels into a bobbin-release position, in response to upward displacement of a bobbin over the holder body.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, an embodiment thereof will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view showing a bobbin holder of the invention in a bobbin-receiving position,

FEGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but taken at right angles thereto and in partial section on the line ll 11 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a sectional plan view on the line llllll of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 4- is a side elevational View taken from the same aspect as FIGURE 2 but showing the holder in the bobbin-retaining position, the sectioned upper end of a bobbin being shown positioned on the holder, and

FEGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing the holder in a position for bobbin release.

Referring now to the drawings, a bobbin holder of the invention has an elongated spindle-like body 1 formed with an internal channel 2 which extends over the greater part of the body length and opens through narrowed oilset axial side slots 2a, 2!; extending down opposed sides of the body wall from the upper end of the body. Towards the lower end of the body, the side slot in is extended by a laterally offset slot 2c in register with slot 2b, whilst side slot 217 is similarly extended at the lower body end by a laterally off-set slot 2d which registers with slot 2a.

At its upper end the body 1 is rotatably and swingably attached to the head of a bolt 3 conveniently through the intermediary of a ball race having an outer skirted race member 4 which embraces the upper end of the body 1 and is secured thereto by a transverse rivet S or in any other known manner. The shank of bolt 3 then projects through an opening in the top of the outer skirted race member 4 and may be encircled by a small frusto-conical collar 6 of synthetic plastic or other material which acts as a seal against the ingress of dust and dirt into the bearing. The shank of bolt 3 will normally be suspended from an overhead support member or creel by engagement with a co-operating nut (not shown) in well-known manner, and may also carry, preferably non-rotatably, an outer skirt-like cap 7 which overlies and generally protects the ball race mechanism.

The body has ramp means secured at the bottom or lower end of the channel 2 therein, the ramp means in this embodiment being provided with two oil-set ramps 3 which diverge outwardly towards the bottom of the body from an approximately central apex do. At the upper end, each ramp surface leads on to a transverse retaining ledge 81:, the purpose of which will be later explained.

Slidably surrounding the body 1 is a comparatively heavy frusto-conical collar 9 the wall of which diverges upwardly. This collar is provided internally and on opposite sides with inwardly projecting abutments 9a which are arranged slidably to enter the body channel 2 through the respective oil-set axial slots 2a and 215 on opposite sides of the body, the abutments 9a being correspondingly off-set. Beside each abutment 9a the collar is provided with an internal slot 9b in the wall thereof, these slots being arranged to register respectively with the lower oftset extension slots 20 and 2a in the body wall.

Catch means are housed within the body channel 2 and, in this embodiment, consist of two similar left and right-hand elongated legs 16. Each such leg is conveniently in the form of a flat-profiled plate having a projection a overhanging one side edge at the upper end. At the lower end, the opposite side edge of the plate is provided with an obtuse angled hump 10b to form an operating heel, whilstthe plate edge overhung by the projections. 10a also is humped at 10c opposite the'heel and tapered off atthe lower end int'o a toe 10d. The uppermost corner of the plate remote from the projection 10a is also vhumped Or-eXtended at we as shown. The 'two' such legs 10 are 1 conveniently held '10 face-to-face, ,with the two projections 10a oppositely and outwardly directed, by alink :pin 11' which is loosely,

passed throughthe upper legends. The legs are their free to slide in the channel g2 inthe axial direction ofthe collar encircles the leg fheels 10b, which project 'to a 7 limited extent through the respective slot extensions 2c,

gent toes .at the lower leg ends straddle the ramp means. The holder is then in the ,boobin-receivin g position.

To engage a bobbin, a neck 12 (see FIG; 4) at one bobbin end is pushed over'the bottom of the holder body luntil' the rim 12a of'the bobbin neck abuts the collar.

' 'Further light upward movement of the bobbin slides 'the collar upwardly, the legs '10 being carriedfupwardly 2d and into the internal. collar slots 91), whilst the diver 4:v holder body below the race member 4 as the collar approaches its limit of upward travel. As a result of this abutment, the. final upward displacement of the collar acting on the leg projections 10a serves positively to urge the leg toes over the ledges.

When the bobbin is withdrawn, the collar 9 drops under its own weight into the lowerstopped'positionon the .body as shown in FIGURES '1 and'2, the collar abutments 9a being arranged, in passing, to push .the toes-10d poll the retaining-ledges by engaging the humps 10c opposite thebobbin-retaining heels. I he legs arethenalso free to drop into. the aforesaid?bobbin-receiving position as shown in FIGURES land 2 in which the toes straddle the ramp surfaces and the heels are confined within the collar.

Y In the described'holder, the-two legs intact act independently, the loose pivot :pin' connection being provided so that each leg prevents the other falling out'of the "body. Various other waysscould, however, clearly be adopted for maintaining the legs in place. Equally, a spring and plunger;arrangement :couldv alternatively or additionally be used to bias "the legs in therequired'displacement directions and the action of gravity ;on the collar. could similarly be replaced by spring action or could be spring aided.

1. A rotary suspension bobbin ho'lder comprising a I spindle-like body adapted to enter the. open end of the bobbin, legmeans carried by said body movable longitudinally and axially thereof, a collar=-slidable on said jbody, bobbin-retaining means on said leg means having aposition projected into thefpath of movement of said withthe collar and at the same timebeing pushed'inward- 'ly at the lowerends, by the slots. 9b riding over the heels 10b, until the collaris 'free to pass over'the -heels 10b. The collar then'continues upwardly under the bobbin movement whilstthe legs drop downwardly under a biasing force which, in this case, is gravity. The toes 10d which straddle the ramp means are thus separated within 'the'bobbin'bore to cause the legsheels :10!) to 611-.

gage .behindor. under the bobbin shoulder 12bas shown in FIGURE 4. The bobbin will then be positively re tained on the holder since, to withdraw the heels, the .legs wouldhave to move upwardly against the weight of the bobbin. In this bobbin-retaining position, the

collar 9 will seat on the bobbin rim and'the weighttherevofwill tend to centre the bobbin vonthe holder. 7

The extent of outward divergence of the leg heels is limitedby contact between the legs and stops 1a, formed by the stepped upper edges of the offset extension slots '20 and 2d, or by contact between the heels and the inner surface of the bobbin bore, if this bore is small enough tomake contact with the heels before the legs are stopped as aforesaid. 'Thus the heels will diverge more or less to accommodate the holder automatically to various bobbin bore sizes.

To release an engaged bobbin from the position shown 7 in FIGURE 4, upward vmovementis again applied to the bobbinsothat the .collar 9 is carried further-towards .the top of the holder body into the bobbin-release position shown in FIGURE 5. .As a. result .of such displacement, the legslfl are entrained and lifted with the collar by engagement of the collar abutments, 9a. under theleg projections 10a. "In moving upwardly along" the ramp means, the lower leg ends also swinginwardly due to the off-set location at which the upward abutment pressure is applied to the overhanging 'legprojections 10a. When collar to enable it-to jholdthe bobbin and havinga position outof saidpath, projectionmeans on saidleg means spaced from the second mentionedmeans movable to projected and retracted positions with respect to said path alternately with the movements to and from the' first mentioned-projected and retracted positions, said collar being engageable with said-projection meansto effect release movement of said leg means, and ramp means on the body 'to aproject said leg means to the bobbin-iholding position upon movement against said ramp means following said last mentioned releasemovement.

2. A rotary suspension bobbin holder comprising ';a spindle-like body adapted to enter the open 'end of the 'bobbin, leg meansv carried by said body movable longitudinallyfand axially thereof, bobbin-retaining means having a projected position beyond'said body .to enable it to hold the bobbin and having a retracted position within said body, projection means on said leg means spaced :ifr'om the second mentioned means movable to projected andretracted positions with respect to said body alternately. with the movements to and from the first mentioned projected and retracted positions, a collar slid- ,able'on'said body engageable with said projection means ,to effect release movement of said leg means, and ramp means'on-thebody to;project said leg meansrto the bobbinholding position upon movement against saidramp tmeans 'following said last, amentioned :release movement.

3. ,A rotary suspension bobbin "holder comprising Ea spindle-like body adaptedto enterthe :open end of the ibobbin, ileg means carried by said .body :movablelongitu- .dinallyzandaxially thereot, bobbin-retainingmeans 'onsaid "-leg means having a projected position beyondtsaid .body

the collar is almost at the top of the b.ody,.the toes 10d of thelegs reach the apex 8a of the ramp surfacesand then rideon to the aforementioned transverse retaining ledges 8b, which'hold the legs with the heels. retracted whilst the bobbin is withdrawn. In order to .make quite certain thattheftoes llld retract fully on theled-ges 8b for bobbin withdrawal, the humps 10s at theupper leg ends are caused to abut the bottom of a fixed partofthe position to enable 'itto hold the bobbin, and having a retracted position-within said body, means to releasably support said leg means in'the retracted position, :projection meansqon said leg means .spaced from the second mentioned meansmovable to projected andretracted positiflons' With respect'to saidtbody alternately with :the movements I0 and from the fir'stwmentioned zprojected"'and .retracted ypositions,x.aflcollar gslidable on said :.body :engageable 'withsaid projection means tojeife'ct release movement of said leg -means from said support, and .ramp ,meansen the body to projectsaidlegmeansjo thebobb'in holding position upon movement against said ramp means following said last mentioned release movement.

4. A rotary suspension bobbin holder according to claim 1 wherein said bobbin retaining means and said projection means are spaced apart and located diagonally 5 opposite on said leg means.

5. A rotary suspension bobbin holder according to claim 1 wherein said bobbin retaining means and said projection means are spaced apart and located diagonally opposite on said leg means and wherein said leg means is rockable through movement of said collar in each of opposite directions.

6. A rotary suspension bobbin holder according to claim 1 wherein said leg means consists of a plurality of legs mounted for pivotal movement relatively to each other, and the bobbin retaining means and said projection means of each leg are spaced apart and located diagonally opposite, the last two mentioned means of one leg being in reverse to its companion leg.

7. A rotary suspension bobbin holder comprising a 20 spindle-like body adapted to enter the open end of the bobbin, the body having a longitudinal channel, a plurality of legs carried by said body and movable axially and laterally in said channel, said legs having bobbin retaining heel means, a collar slidable along said body to and from a lower to an upper position, projection means on said leg means and collar to effect release-movement of said leg means when said collar is in its uppermost position, and ramp means on the body to cause projection of said leg means to bobbin-retaining position upon movement against said ramp means following said release movement.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,652,857 12/27 Greve. 2,873,930 2/59 Brunner 242l30.2 2,876,962 3/59 Spencer 242-1302 MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A ROTARY SUSPENSION BOBBIN HOLDER COMPRISING A SPINDLE-LIKE BODY ADAPTED TO ENTER THE OPEN END OF THE BOBBIN, LEG MEANS CARRIED BY SAID BODY MOVABLE LONGITUDINALLY AND AXIALLY THEREOF, A COLLAR SLIDABLE ON SAID BODY, BOBBIN-RETAINING MEANS ON SAID LEG MEANS HAVING A POSITION PROJECTED INTO THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID COLLAR TO ENABLE IT OT HOLD THE BOBBIN AND HAVING A POSITION OUT OF SAID PATH, PROJECTION MEANS ON SAID LEG MEANS SPACED FROM THE SECOND MENTIONED MEANS MOVABLE TO PROJECTED AND RETRACTED POSITIONS WITH RESPECT TO SAID PATH ALTERNATELY WITH THE MOVEMENTS TO AND FROM THE FIRST MENTIONED PROJECTED AND RETRACTED POSITIONS, SAID COLLAR BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID PROJECTION MEANS TO EFFECT RELEASE MOVEMENT OF SAID LEG MEANS, AND RAMP MEANS ON THE BODY TO PROJECT SAID LEG MEANS TO THE BOBBIN-HOLDING POSITION UPON MOVEMENT AGAINST SAID RAMP MEANS FOLLOWING SAID LAST MENTIONED RELEASE MOVEMENT. 